Schuylkill Hope Center for Victims of DV

Special thanks to Pine Grove Area School District, Blue Mountain School District, and Shenandoah Valley School District for hosting domestic violence awareness nights at one of their Girl's Schuylkill League Basketball games this winter! We had one three point competition winner and a tremendous amount of community support!

An advocate will be available from 10AM to 2PM today in Mahanoy City. This is a great opportunity for folks who live in northern Schuylkill County to come visit and talk about the services Hope Center has to offer near to your hometown!

TWO POSITIONS AVAILABLE HOUSING ADVOCATE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT Schuylkill Hope Center seeks a full-time Housing Advocate who will interact with survivors of domestic violence and assist in meeting their long-term housing needs. The Housing Advocate will assist survivors in achieving personal goals as related to housing and financial stability. The Housing Advocate will interact with landlords and community agencies. The Housing Advocate will conduct inspections of prospective housing to ensure it meets minimum requirements as outlined by funders/HUD. Hope Center’s housing program aims to empower clients to achieve their self-defined goals that will support their ability to obtain and maintain housing. Some flexibility in scheduling is required, as necessary to meet client needs. Minimum of three years’ relevant work experience in social services or related fields. A Bachelor’s degree in social services or human services is preferred. Willing to have child abuse, criminal background, driving record check, and FBI clearances completed. Submit cover letter and resume to [email protected] by noon on January 31, 2025. EOE SHELTER ADVOCATE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT Schuylkill Hope Center seeks a full time or part time Shelter Advocate to work a flexible schedule to ensure 24/7 shelter availability for victims who become homeless due to abuse. Ensure the emergency needs of clients and their children are met at the Hope Center. Provide crisis intervention and trauma informed empowerment counseling in person and on the hotline. Assess immediate needs for shelter, protection from abuse orders, and safety planning. Paid training program is provided for all new employees. Qualifications: Minimum high school diploma, prefer relevant work experience in social services or related fields. Willing to have child abuse, criminal background, driving record check, and FBI clearances completed. Submit cover letter and resume to [email protected] by noon on January 31, 2025. EOE

As the end of the year approaches, we remember the importance of safety and community. While many gather in warmth and celebration, for those experiencing domestic abuse, the holidays are a time of fear and uncertainty. Survivors face daily challenges, and for many, the emotional and physical toll of abuse only deepens during what should be a joyous season. Hope Center provides a lifeline to those who need it most. Each year, we offer support, housing, counseling, legal assistance, and many other services to survivors, helping them rebuild their lives, regain their sense of dignity, and find hope for a future free from abuse. Each survivor who walks through our doors has a story of pain, but also of incredible courage. Many are mothers, fathers, children—individuals who have endured unimaginable hardship, and yet, through their resilience, seek to break free from the cycle of violence. With your help, we can continue to offer them the resources they need to start over, to heal, and to thrive: $100 supports accompaniment through a survivor’s healing court process $250 grants a survivor one month of empowerment-based crisis counseling $500 provides one week of sheltering for a parent, two children, and their pet We cannot meet the growing demand for services like these without the tax-deductible contributions of compassionate people like you. We know there are many worthy causes to support this season, and we are so grateful that you are considering Hope Center in your giving. Your compassion and generosity will give the most precious gift of all: the chance for a survivor to heal and rebuild their life, free from violence. For those who feel alone this holiday season, your support will remind them that they are not forgotten, that they matter, and that there is hope for a better tomorrow. Together, we can make this holiday season a time of renewal and possibility for survivors of domestic violence and send powerful messages that our community stands united against abuse. To donate to Hope Center's 2024/2025 Annual Appeal visit: https://lnkd.in/eW2N8qGe PayPal: https://lnkd.in/ek7NzBsx Venmo: Search schopecenter in “Charities” for “Schuylkill Women in Crisis DBA Schuylkill Hope Center”

Back by popular demand! 2nd Annual Schuylkill Hope Center for Victims of Domestic Violence (formerly known as Schuylkill Women in Crisis) New Year's Day Raffle! To help celebrate the new year, we are offering a very special raffle opportunity to thank everyone for your continuous support of our advocacy program. This 60/40 raffle to be drawn on New Years Day 2025 at 2:00pm EST will award 60% to the raffle winner!! The direct link to purchase tickets is: https://ow.ly/TAEy50UlNnG Once you have completed your ticket purchase online, you will receive an email from our agency informing you of your recorded ticket number and printable tickets. The winning number will be drawn using an accredited online number generator. This unique raffle opportunity not only creates a larger than normal prize for you, but also provides direct assistance to Schuylkill County domestic abuse victims! And, these tickets can make super holiday gifts for others!! Schuylkill Hope Center is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization and also registered and licensed to conduct small games of chance.

Schuylkill Hope Center seeks a full-time Housing Advocate! The Housing Advocate will interact with survivors of domestic violence and assist in meeting their long term housing needs. The Housing Advocate will assist survivors in achieving personal goals as related to housing and financial stability. The Housing Advocate will interact with landlords and community agencies. The Housing Advocate will conduct inspections of prospective housing to ensure it meets minimum requirements as outlined by funders/HUD. Hope Center’s housing program aims to empower clients to achieve their self-defined goals that will support their ability to obtain and maintain housing. Some flexibility in scheduling is required, as necessary to meet client needs. Minimum of three years relevant work experience in social services or related fields. A Bachelor’s degree in social services or human services is preferred. Willing to have child abuse, criminal background, driving record check, and FBI clearances completed. To apply, please submit your resume to [email protected] by NOON on October 4, 2024. EOE

- STAFF SPOTLIGHT - This week we are highlighting our Property Assistant, Cheryl, who has worked for the Hope Center since 2010! Cheryl has a wide range of responsibilities at Hope Center such as light maintenance, cleaning, occasional cooking, sorting and laundering items in our donation facility as well as bedding for shelter residents, maintaining and organizing our food pantry and hygiene donations, doing yard work, and moving furniture. She also gathers household items for domestic violence survivors exiting shelter to permanent housing! In summary and most importantly, Cheryl is here to take care of the survivors we serve! Cheryl says that her favorite part of working at the Hope Center is "getting to help survivors feel safe and comfortable as they start the next chapter in their lives." The three words she would use to describe Hope Center are "safe, friendly, and generous." Cheryl loves cooking, crafting, reading, and being outside! Thank you, Cheryl, for your 14 years of services and for being here to take care of survivors on their paths to safety and independence - you are an essential part of the SHC team! Everybody spread some Cheryl appreciation!

If you are looking for support due to domestic violence, our hotline is available 24/7 to ensure that assistance is available when you need it! Each hotline call is free and confidential. While on a hotline call, Hope Center staff will first assess if the caller is in immediate danger and proceed from there. Our goal is to provide the caller with individualized services, whether that be connecting them with a Hope Center service or resource referrals. Reach out by dialing (570)-622-6220.

- INTERN SPOTLIGHT - "My name is Kaitlyn Carduff and I’m from Shenandoah, PA. I’m currently a rising senior at Bucknell University majoring in Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies. I gained interest in interning at the Hope Center due to my lack of awareness of the presence of domestic violence in Schuylkill County. I have many family members who work in the social work field, and due to me wanting to focus more on the legal side of social work with my post-graduate education, I found that the Hope Center’s variety of services was a perfect match for what I was looking for. Through interning at the Hope Center, I have learned how much magnitude their services provide to domestic violence victims within the county. From court advocacy, to housing assistance, the 24 hour hotline and many more services, the Hope Center is very catering to the needs of every individual being affected by domestic violence." Pictured: Kaitlyn (left) reviews information on victim notification with Hope Center Court Advocate, Maggie (right). If you or someone you know is interested in interning at the Hope Center during the fall 2024 semester, whether to learn more about direct services or marketing and communications, submit your resume and letter of intent to Sarah at [email protected] before August 15, 2024!

Stop by if you are in the area! An advocate will be available from 10AM through 2PM today.